HABITS OF THE LAMPREYS. 677 



202. THE LAMPREY SPETROMYZONTIDJE. 



In the fresh and brackish waters of the Uuited States occur several species of the Lamprey 

 family. 



NAMES. The habits of these fishes are not well understood, and in the present discussion we 

 shall be obliged to rely to a considerable degree on the observations of European zoologists. In 

 the United States the fishes, of whatever species, are generally known as " Lampreys " and " Lumper 

 Eels," these names being also in use in England, where one of the smaller species, P. branchiaiis, 

 is also known as the "Pride," "Prid," or " Sandpiper." The name ''Nine-eye" is also common in 

 England, a name which reappears on the continent in the "Neunauge" and "Neunaugel" of Ger- 

 many and Austria, and the "Nejon ogou" of Scandinavia. This curious name had its origin in the 

 eye like appearance of the circular branchial openings, of which a considerable number appear on 

 either side of the head. In the common " Nine-eye" of England, however, there are only seven, 

 and even if the eye be counted only eight, eye-like circles upon each side. In Germany the 

 name most commonly in use is "Pricke" or "Bricke," while in France "Lamproie" is their usual 

 appellation, and in Italy "Lampreta." 



DISTKIBIJTION. Tiie Lampreys are almost the least specialized of fishes. Although inform 

 resembling the eels, they belong to a very different group, which by Gill and others of our best 

 authorities has been considered a distinct class, and are not even entitled to be called fishes. So 

 slight has been the progress in the scientific study of the Lampreys, that but little can be definitely 

 stated about their geographical distribution, excepting that they occur in the fresh waters and 

 along the coasts of the temperate regions of both hemispheres. The largest and best known 

 species, and the only one which has at present any commercial value, is Petromyzon am erica nun, 

 by most authorities believed to be identical with the P. marinus of Europe,' which occurs in the 

 streams and estuaries of our eastern coast from Nova Scotia as far south at least as Cape Hatteras. 



HABITS. The key to the habits or' the Lampreys is found in the peculiar arrangement of their 

 mouth. In P. mitiiiiKK, according to Emile Blanchard, this is completely circular and forms a 

 great sucker enormously capacious, sun-minded by a fleshy lip studded with tentacles and sup- 

 ported within by a cartilaginous framework. This mouth is covered over its entire interior 

 surface with strong teeth arranged in concentric circles, some single, others. double, the larger 

 occupying the central portion, and the smaller Conning the exterior rows. A large double tooth, 

 situated above the aperture of the month, indicates the situation of the upper jaw; a lar.ne carti- 

 lage, supporting seven or eight great teeth, represents the lower jaw. The tongue also carries 

 three large teeth, deeply serrated upon their edges. 



The structure of the intestine, which, as in the Sharks, is provided with an extensive, spiral 

 valve, indicates that these animals are chielly carnivorous in diet. They arc said to feed upon 

 worms, insects, and decaying animal mailer. Dr. ISeneeke, of Konigshcrg. and others have found 

 their stomachs full of the eggs of fish. The structure of the mouth, however, would teach us, 

 even in default of observations upon their customary mode' of feeding, that they are semi-parasitic 

 in their habits, attaching themselves to large fish by suctorial action, and, while attached, tearing 

 the llesh of the fi>h with their marvelous mincing machine, which is composed of the teeth within 

 the circular mouth, while they suck the blood of their victim. They are often found attached to 

 the larger fishes, such as shad, sturgeons, and Sharks. 



Captain Atwood states that small Lampreys of a bluish color are found attached to various 



'GONTHKR: Catalogue of Fishes of the British Museum, viii, p. 501. 



